July 2, 2008

EPA Web Site Provides Importing, Exporting Environmental Rules

Importers and exporters can now visit a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website for information on laws governing the import and export of materials that may pose a risk to human health and the environment.

The site provides compliance information about about importing and exporting vehicles and engines, fuel and fuel additives, ozone depleting substances, chemical substances regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act, pesticides, including pesticide residues on foods, hazardous wastes, plumbing products, and scrap metal.

For example, since Canadian cars meet vehicle U.S. emission standards, many vehicles made for sale in Canada are eligible for import to the U.S., the EPA’s list of Canadian Vehicles Approved for Import is available here.

The plumbing section says it is unlawful for anyone to sell plumbing fixtures if they are not lead free. “Lead free” plumbing fixtures, according to the site, contain: solders and flux that do not contain more than 0.2 percent lead; pipes and pipe fittings that do not contain more than eight percent lead; and plumbing fittings and fixtures that are tested and certified in compliance with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF) Standard 61, Section 9.

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